“To recover the power and passion of men’s sexuality unsullied by patriarchal assault, men of all ages must be allowed to speak openly of their sexual longing. They must be able to be sexual beings in a space where patriarchal thinking can no longer make violation the only means of attaining sexual pleasure. ”
“When we walk in the world with unearned privilege, it is our role to unlearn and ‘dismantle myths’ of entitlement, to reconnect with empathic capacities dulled by acculturation into dominance and to become accountable.”
Father to a little girl, husband to a mighty woman, dancer to a sensuous world.
My name is Elliot Katz
I’m a white, cis-gender, heterosexual, temporarily able-bodied, college-educated, Ashkenazi Jewish man born and raised in the United States. I use he/him pronouns. You may have known me as Stem Kent, which I went by for much of my adult life. I’m a father to a bright young girl, husband to a strong and loving wife, brother to two powerful sisters, a son, grandson and much more.
I have a Bachelors degree in Sociology and have a passion for catalyzing culturally transformative experiences. As an avid Fusion partner dancer and cofounder of the PULSE Partner Dance Collective in Sebastopol, California, I find my greatest freedom, connection and sensuous play on the dance floor. My professional career has been as Founder & CEO of a plant-based protein company and I continue serving as an operational strategist for forward-thinking, regenerative food companies.
Pre-pandemic, I was the creator of The Masculinities Dialogue, which was an online and in-person community cultural space in Sebastopol CA to acknowledge, confront and challenge the cultural norms of hyper-masculinity perpetuated by our entrenched systems of Patriarchy. Now, I am devoting myself to where widespread cultural healing is needed at the intersection between patriarchal masculinity, sexual repression / violence, and personal embodiment.
After 20 years learning through a sociological lens and over a decade in the Men’s Work and Initiations circles, I see how the suppression, control and shame of men’s erotic lived experience is a core wound that emanates out in all levels of harm. I’m both excited to step into this work, and deeply humbled by the severity of our global issues derived from these societal ills. It is my deep prayer that, through powerful collaborations and partnerships, I can serve in supporting boys and men to step into dignified allyship with girls, women and all marginalized people, while knowing how to honor, celebrate and walk honestly and reverently with their full vitality and erotic aliveness.